The next time you need to get a flu shot in Independence, you’ll be able to schedule it through the Independence Health Department’s new online registration service.

Health Director Larry Jones said the Health Department has new electronic vaccine registration manager software to streamline the entire flu clinic process.

“This software allows for electronic registration and electronic data access which is expected to reduce wait times significantly,” Jones said.

Jones said this electronic system will provide public health officials with an accurate, reliable, centralized, easily accessible, database of vaccine information. Another benefit will be faster access to an individual’s immunization record, which will be much more efficient with this system.

“People will be able to fill out a consent form online and print off a receipt to bring to the clinic,” Bridgette Casey, Health Department epidemiologist, said in explaining the process.

Once entered into the system, a person has 30 days to attend a clinic before their online registration expires.

Upon arriving at the clinic, people with a confirmation receipt will be put next in line to see a nurse. Those who are not pre registered will have to do so at a laptop kiosk before they can get in the vaccination line.

“This could be especially helpful for families bringing in children,” Casey said. “Parents will no longer have to balance watching their children and filling out forms for the entire family.”

The new online registration, because it will require less paperwork at the clinics, will speed up the entire process. “We want to encourage vaccination by making the process as quick and easy as possible,” Andrew Warlen, Health Department Code Compliance manager, who worked in development of the process, said.

"This new system will allow us to vaccinate more people, and the more people we can get vaccinated, the more protection we provide to our community," Warlen said. "I admire those who have spent hours in line to get vaccinated to protect their families. This will help us provide that same protection but with less waiting time."

Jones said to get this system up and running, the software developer is providing the Health Department with 15 laptop computers.

Those interested in attending a H1N1 flu clinic hosted by the Independence Health Department are encouraged to fill out their registration forms online before going to the clinic. It is highly recommended for everyone to print off the electronic registration receipts and bring them to the clinic. The forms and clinic dates can be found online at www.independencemo.org/health.

The flu clinics at the Independence Health Department, 515 S. Liberty St., have ended for the season but residents can still sign up through the electronic registration system.  To schedule a time for a flu shot call the Health Department.

For more information call the Health Department’s H1N1 hotline (816) 325 – 6300.